Japanese Chief Representative: July 9 is not the final deadline for Japan-US negotiations.

The chief trade negotiator of Japan has stated that Japan will not insist on the upcoming date that could lead to a so-called equal tariff increase, indicating that Japan is prepared for the possibility of trade negotiations being delayed. Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari said last Friday in Tokyo to reporters, "To avoid misunderstandings, I want to confirm that I never said July 9 is the deadline for Japan-U.S. negotiations. Japan and the United States maintain regular communication through various channels, and we will continue to consider the most effective way and engage in appropriate consultations." When asked if Japan would seek an extension of the deadline for full tariffs, Amari did not give a direct answer. The United States plans to restore tariffs to their original levels for many countries on July 9, which means that the tariff rate for Japan will increase from the current 10% to 24%. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said that the U.S. may grant extensions to countries that negotiate in good faith. Earlier this week, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with U.S. President Donald Trump during the G7 summit in Canada, but they were unable to reach an agreement, despite having three phone discussions on the tariff issue before the meeting.